Corner protector



Jan. 15, 1963 B. SYMMONDS, JR 3,073,439

CORNER PROTECTOR v arzz ei B. gymmafltii Filed NOV. 30, 1959 V I65 ate 3,633,439 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 ice This invention relates to the at of packaging and bundling, and more particularly toa novel-corrier protector which effectively prevents damage to the corners of packages and bundles held together by metal bands for shipment and handling. V

Heretofore in the'art it has been customary to form corner protectors from sheet metal wherein the proper form of protector was stamped out of stock into the desiredshape. One of the major drawbacksto protectorsof this type was caused by the impossibility of obtaining a sharp inside corner due to the fact that the metal would crackpand render the protector useless. Therefore, in metal protectors there never could be a snug fit over the corner of thepackage or bundle it was supposed to protect, and damage would result, both when the tensioned band or strap was applied over the corner, and in the actual handling of such packages or bundles during shipment.

in corner protectors made in accordance with the invention, the above referred to disadvantages arejcornpletely-avoided. 1 This isbecause my novel corner'protector has a sharp angular inside corner which enables it at all times when in use to fit snugly over the corner it is to protect, and also to insure that the opposed arms .t hereo f lie fiat against the goods in the bundle.

In accordance with the inven'tion'my novel corner protector preferablyis formed'of a flexible plastic material which has suiiicient resiliency that when in use it inner faces of the arms lie in planes intersecting in a sharp angle so that the protector when placed .in operative .position on the corner ofabundle being handed fits snugly on the corner and the inner faces of the opposed arms lie flat against the goods being bundled.

The invention also consists in .the provision of a novel corner protector having means for maintaining .it in a selected position on the corner of a package so that the required number of corner protectors can be assembled around the package and then the required'banding strip, or band can befwound, over the corner'protectors-and secured in tension about the package. I Y t The invention is further. characterized bysthe provision of a novel corner protector formed from a non- .metallic material,v and wherein the inner faces 'of the opposed arms are dis-posedin such angular arrangement that when the protector is placed on a package and covers a portion of the corner thereof the sides lie flatagainst the package sides with the inside corner snug against I the corner portion it covers. In this'way .no damage canbe inflicted to the corner portion'which'is protected despite the fact that the protectors are held against the package by a banding strip under tension. T v

his a further object of the invention to provide a' novel corner'protector for'packages and bundles wherein there is formed on the. rear portion of the protector over which the securing strip is disposed a relatively Wide package orbundle.

ridge which is operative to spread the pressure load imposed by the tensioned strip over abroad area, thereby aiding in the prevention of damage to the contents of the An additional object of the invention is the provision of a novel corner protector having means for spreading can adapt itself to the sides of the bundle or package it protects, as mentioned; above. I have found that polyethylene and polypropylene give satisfactory results. If desired, other suitable plastic materials, or combinations thereof wit-hjoil, sheet material other than relatively thick sheet metal, can be'used, so long asthey can be formed in such manner as to provide a sharp; inside cornerangle which enables the corner protector 'thus formed to fit snugly against the corner of the goods it protects. r 1

.ltis, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novel corner protector which is so constructed that it practically eliminates the danger of damage to packages and bundles on which it is used. v It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel, rust-proof corner protector-s0 constructed that it but such manner that when held by a=suitable banding strip in operative position on a bundleor package the seated relationship of the protector thereon,is suchthat danger fits snugly against the corner of-a package 'orv bundle'to be" handed or stripped for handling and shipment, and Y wherein the inside corner of the protector is angular in '65 the 'pres'sureload applied. by a tensioned metal'banding strip or other suitable strip over a relativelylarge area of thegoods thus banded and whereinthe band'or strip at all times is rnaintained out of contact withthe goods. With'these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certaincombinations and constructions'which will. b'e'described fully hereinafter, and then ,set forth in the claims hereunto h bodiment of my novelcornerjprotectorf FIGURE 3' is a sec 'onal view 'taken on line i offdamage to thecorner 'of the bundle-or package covered:thereby ispracticallyeliminated.-

' n is a further-object gripenv ntion toprovide a;

. p ly n vellplas'ticfcorner.prote'cto which is'effectiveiin pre yenting dainagez'topaclgages ndbundles'gonjwhich it is characterized b'y 'the rove r securing j FIGURE 3; and T.

of. the invention.

'L-shaped in appearance, Where the protector fisito be gular cross-sectiomt-he angle *be'tweenth'e arm isf Q =lnl. thefi fcase ,where' 'the protectorfis'ftobei'lised with a ghe'Xag-onaI cross sect n, the angle b'etween" appended. g

in'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of.

' this specification; and in which like characters of-reierf ence indicate the sameor like parts;

I age tied with a. suitable band gorstrip using foilr corner FIGURE 1 is a perspectivelvie'wfof'a bundleior p ackv protectors constructed in accordance "with the-ihvention; FIGURE '2 isv a perspective view of a preferred em- FIGURE1 I .FIGUREAisa plan view o f jthe' structureshown iii' FIGURES is a perspective'view of a'}moclifie d Referring tothe iirawingsgit will: beseeri tlihtthe corner protector forming"theinvention' 'is"'}'generally' used with bundles or packages having asquare or rectan It is evidentthat;-the'angnlartrelat FIGURE 1 discloses a completed bundle designated generally comprising three superimposed wrapped stacks 12 of Sheetrock building material. Because of the nature of the goods thus prepared for shipment, it is important that in the strapping of the goods no damage be caused to the corner portions 14 where the straps or bands 16 are applied. In bundle10, four corner protectors 18 are, secured by strap 16, the latter having been tied under suitable tension by clamp 20 of conventional design using a conventional tool (not shown).

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, which show more-in detail a preferred embodiment of corner protector 13, it will be noted that it comprises an elongated body 22, which if desired may be provided with longitudinal grooves 24. These grooves afford a measure of flexibility to body 22 in a direction at right angles to its length when corner protector 18 is secured to the goods being bundled or packaged. Grooves 24 also effect a saving in the material from which protector 18 is formed. Longitudinally spaced lugs 26 formed on body 22 prevent band or strap slippage on a completed bundle 10.

Extending outwardly firom body 22 are two arms 28. In the forms of the invention illustrated, arms 28 are substantially equal in length. It will be appreciated, however, that one arm 28 could be longer than the other, if desired. This would depend upon the siz of the bundle being formed and its cross-section. Arms 28 are provided with openings 30, of suitable shape. In

FIGURES 2 and 3, these openings are substantially square in cross-section. The purpose of these openings is to make it possible to insure that once a corner protector 18 is placed in proper position on a bundle to be tied or strapped, it will remain there during the strapping or tying operation until the bundle is completed. This method avoids the necessity of nailing through the arms of a protector, which obviously damages a portion of the goods being packed, and at the same time it aifords an extremely simple way of securing a protector in place for strapping. Nails, however, may still be used in bundling some types of goods, if desired, since they can be easily driven through the plastic without splitting it. In FIGURE 2, a corner protector 18 has been placed on a bundle being strapped. By virtue of openings 59, protector 18 is held in desired position by a strip of masking tape 32. In FIGURE 2, only one opening 30 is used. It is obvious that both could be used, in which case the position onthe bundle of protector 18would be doubly assured. In experience, I have found that only one opening 30 need be used, and-that because. of simplicity in manufacture, andalso to provide a choice of openings in actual use, .itis'a good idea to provide atleastone opening 30 in each arm 28; As shown, openings 30 are formed well within the central limits of arms 28, and thus insure. that they will be firmly and positively held in position prior to the attachment of banding strip or band 16in forming a bundle 10. .Openings or holes 30 also effect a savings in material, since protectors 18 aremolded plastic parts.

Referring again to. FIGURE 3, it will be seen that lugs 28"centralize strap 16 on corner protectors 18. The masking or othcr type ,of securing tape can be removed after strap 16 has beensecured by clamp 21} (FIGURE 1) or, if desired, may .remain on the final bundle. As showngin FIGURE 3, the outer edges of body 22 are ,so disposedwithrespect to thearms28 that in its final operativqposition, strap ,16, is maintained out offcontacf with the bundle.

My .n'ovelprotector.-18 ismade of any suitable plastic. Ihave found that polyethylene and"polypropylene'prefen. bl of the h n yp' siwhi h res tiy lv;,ch a

. and .easily fabricated, giyesatisfactorwtes" tect, and after the re'quirednumber of protectors have been applied around the bundle, a strap or band 16 is.tied

plastic is rustproof, at no time willa-ypackaige or-jbujndle Y using any] protector be spoiled by rustgas isdrequently Further;

.i packages hav ng metal Iprbtectors manently tacky adhesive.

In accordance with my invention, it is possible to make a corner protector in which the inner faces of the arms extending outward from body 22 and which lie against the sides of the package lie in planes which intersect and form the desired sharp seating angle. For example, in corner protector 18 shown in the drawings, and especially in FIGURE 3, the angle a between arms 28 is There is no radius between the inside faces of arms 28 at their line of intersection forming angle a. If the package or bundle'being formed was hexagonal in crosssection, then the angle formed by the intersection of the arms 28 would be as would be the case for an equilateral, triangular crosssection package. The important feature of this construction is that this accuracy in the angular relationship of arms 28 enables a protector 18 to fit or seat snugly against the corner of a package it is to protect. In this way, in the handling and/or shipping of a bundle or package to which it is applied, the corner protector cannot be damaged. It is noteworthy that the plastic material not only is tough and resistant to breakage, but also acts to absorb shocks and prevent them from reaching the goods protected. This feature is unknown in the case of metal protectors which can bend and be distorted by blows against them.

The forms of corner protectors 18 and 118 shown in the drawings have arms which may be termed trapezoidal in plan, see particularly FIGURE 4 and also FIGURE 5. While I have found that this shape gives most satisfactory results, other shapes could be used.

The construction shown in FIGURE 5 is essentially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1-4 inclusive, except for (the means by which corner protector 118 is maintained on a bundle or package being strapped or tied. Therefore, no detailed description of its construction is considered necessary. Corner protector 118 which has an elongated body portion 122 having longitudinal grooves 124 and spaced lugs (not shown) corresponding to lugs 26 of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-4, is provided with a coating of a suitable adhesive, preferably a tacky adhesive 134, normally covered by a protecting sheet 136. As shown, there is a coating of adhesive 134 on the inner face of each of the arms 128, although a satisfactory result would be obtained if only one inner face was coated. As mentioned, it is preferred to use a per- A suitable adhesive of this type 18 a so-called pressure-sensitive adhesive such as made and sold by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, under the designation No. 1383, No. 1431 and No. 1815. In preparinga corner inner faces of arms 128, the protector 118 is pressed home against the portion ofthe corner of a bundle it is to proand fastened to complete the bundle10, as described herema ove;

.ZReferring again toj tthehr'a'wings,it shouldbei'notedfl that'rny novel bornenprot'ectqn comprises relatively rigid I portions 23,an'd,123, respectively, on body zzysild lzz, I s

prospectively, to'which are joiu'eti a's' integral partsfnrmsiu and 128, respectively, the latterf having faces which sea t flat-against the goods-to be strapped or banded together." t

As best shown in FIGURE 3, rigid portions 23 are projections forming integral parts of body portion 22, and they extend rearwardly and laterally on body portion in such manner that when a strap or band 16 is passed thereover and secured and tensioned, the pressure of the strapping load exerted or imposed by the strap or band is directed wholly against the surfaces of the projections 23 which extend along appositesides of body portion 22 with respect to a plane bisecting' the corner angle a formed by the intersection of the inner faces of arms 28. In this manner tensioned strap or band 16 does not exert any pressure or stress either on the corner of vthe protector between projections 23 or on the portion of the package it protects. Instead, the entire strapping load is spread over the sides of the package adjacent the portion where the protector is secured. The same conditions obtain for the modified form of protector 118 shown in FIGURE 5.

It will be seen, therefore, that the design and positioning of the elements of my novel protector, and the manner in which the inner faces of the arms thereof lie in planes intersecting to form a desired angle, as described, preclude the possibility ofi damage to merchandise being strapped or banded for shipment, handling and storage. Thus the invention makes possible the provision of a tough, shockproof and rugged protector not heretofore known or available in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A corner protector of the type described comprising a generally L-shaped elongated body having two angularly disposed outwardly extending arms formed integrally therewith, the inner faces of said arms lying in planes intersecting on one side of said body to form a relatively sharp inside corner angle adapted to be seated against a selected corner portion of a package to be strapped, strap supporting means formed integrally on the opposite sides of said body and extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship along opposite sides of the line bisecting the angle formed by the planes of intersection of said inner faces of said arms, said strap supporting means also extending rearwardly and laterally from said body to provide a support surface for a tensioned strap passed thereover and located above the corner portion of said body portion extending between said supporting means, and secured in such manner that the strapping band load is imposed only on said supporting means and is directed thereby over a substantial area of the sides of the package where said protector is secured by a strap.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 including openings formed in said arms of said protector for assisting in the securing of said protector to a package.

13. 'i he invention defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting means comprise projections, and wherein the surface portions of said projections which support said strap are so located as to support the portion of a strap passing thcreover in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane bisecting the angle formed by the intersecting inner faces oi} said arms, whereby to absorb the strapping load of said strap and direct it over a substantial area of the sides of a package.

4. A plastic corner protector of the class described comprising a body having a front portion formed by two integral outwardly extending arms having their inner faces lying in planes intersecting to form a relatively sharp corner angle adapted to seat against a selected corner of a package to be protected, said body also having a rear portion, a pair of spaced projections formed integrally with said rear portion of said body and extending outwardly and laterally therefrom to provide a strap support ing surface lying in a plane substantially at right angles with the plane passed through said corner angle and bisecting it, the edges of said projections being spaced above the center 05 the rear portion of said body, whereby that part of a tensioned strap passing over said strap supporting surface is so supported that the entire strapping load of said tensioned strap is spread over a substantial area of the sides of said package, and damage to the corner of said package beneath said protector is prevented.

5 The invention defined in claim 4 including lug means formed integrally on said projections, said lug means being so spaced as to prevent substantial lateral shifting of a tensioned strap passing over said surface of said projections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CORNER PROTECTOR OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING A GENERALLY L-SHAPED ELONGATED BODY HAVING TWO ANGULARLY DISPOSED OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ARMS FORMED INTEGRALLY THEREWITH, THE INNER FACES OF SAID ARMS LYING IN PLANES INTERSECTING ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY TO FORM A RELATIVELY SHARP INSIDE CORNER ANGLE ADAPTED TO BE SEATED AGAINST A SELECTED CORNER PORTION OF A PACKAGE TO BE STRAPPED, STRAP SUPPORTING MEANS FORMED INTEGRALLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY AND EXTENDING IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LINE BISECTING THE ANGLE FORMED BY THE PLANES OF INTERSECTION OF SAID INNER FACES OF SAID ARMS, SAID STRAP SUPPORTING MEANS ALSO EXTENDING REARWARDLY AND LATERALLY FROM SAID BODY TO PROVIDE A SUPPORT SURFACE FOR A TENSIONED STRAP PASSED THEREOVER AND LOCATED ABOVE THE CORNER PORTION OF SAID BODY PORTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, AND SECURED IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE STRAPPING BAND LOAD IS IMPOSED ONLY ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND IS DIRECTED THEREBY OVER A SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF THE SIDES OF THE PACKAGE WHERE SAID PROTECTOR IS SECURED BY A STRAP. 